Gauhati High Court Directs Centre To Forthwith Release Its Share For Completion Of Greater Diphu Water Scheme Project

The Gauhati High Court recently directed the Union Government to release its remaining share of Rs 1636.05 lakhs for the successful implementation of scheme named “Augmentation of Greater Diphu Water Scheme in Karbi Anglong District” under the Non-Lapse Central Pool of Resource (NLCPR).

The division bench of the Chief Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice Suman Shyam noted that out of the Central Government’s share of Rs 2490.69 lakh, only an amount of Rs 854.11 lakh has been released so far.

The bench was hearing a PIL on the issue of non-implementation of the scheme relating to supply of clean drinking water in Karbi Anglong District, Assam.

The affidavit filed on behalf of the Chief Engineer, PHE, Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council stated that the total project cost in the year 2008 was fixed at Rs. 2767.44 lakhs and the share of the Central Government towards this project was 90 percent and the remaining 10 percent was to be borne by the State Government. It was further stated that the Central Government released a sum of Rs. 854.64 lakhs and the works were got executed through different contractors.

It was submitted that the State Government share was released to the tune of Rs. 110.12 lakhs on December 15, 2016 and no Central Government share of funds towards the project has been released thereafter. 

“In view of the admitted position, as emanating from the records, we hereby direct that the concerned authority of the Government of India shall forthwith proceed in the direction of releasing the Central Government’s share for completion of the project in question,” the court ordered.

The court further directed the Central Government Counsel to file affidavit of the officer concerned by August 24.

Case Title: Kamalsing Bey v. The Union of India & 7 Ors

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